Pregnant woman with monkeypox delivers healthy baby in the US

A pregnant woman who was infected with monkeypox virus has given birth to a healthy baby in the United States. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials, the baby was delivered safely and both the woman and the child are ‘doing well’, CBS news reported.

“There has been a case of a pregnant woman who delivered,” the CDC’s Dr. John Brooks said.

“That neonate received the IG prophylactically. And both mom and baby are doing well,” CDC’s Dr Brett Peterson said.

During previous outbreaks, the baby had contracted the disease from the mother during the pregnancy. However, this time the baby did not appear to have contracted the disease, Brooks added.

As per CDC data, the frequency of monkeypox leading to severe outcomes in pregnant women is limited and diagnosing it also remains a challenge. The agency has urged that “pregnant, recently pregnant, and breastfeeding people should be prioritized for medical treatment if needed.”

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CHILD GIVEN IMMUNE GLOBIN

The child was given an infusion of immune globulin, CDC officials said. The Food and Drug Administration has given a nod to give immune globin as an antibody treatment during the monkeypox outbreaks.

Two cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in children in the US. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared monkeypox as a global health emergency crisis with Spain having the highest number of cases at 3,596. The head of the WHO has advised men at risk of monkeypox to consider limiting adult partners for now.

The CDC had earlier warned that pregnant women are ‘at especially increased risk for severe outcomes’ from monkeypox.

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